Winding-spindle.



.l. M. BROWN.

WINDING SPINDLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. l6, I916.

l ,26 1,356 Patented Apr, 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 4/ ATTORNEYS BROWN WINDING SPINDLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, I916.

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WINDING-SPINDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, acre.

Application filed December 16, 1916. Serial No. 137,307.

. rial being wound thereon and to the providing of a winding spindle with an expan sible end by the engagement with which the spool or, tube or cop is secured to the spindle for the purpose of being turned thereby and the said tube, spool or cop is held in substantial alinement with the axis of the spindle.

The objects of my invention are to provide a windingspindle with an expansible end, the members of which may be contracted or drawn toward or within the spindle,

for the purpose of reducing the efi'ective diameter of the 'expansible end, said members bein normally under tension substantially ra ially of the spindle, so that themembers of the expansible end normally tend to move outwardly from the axis of the spindle; to provide means for retracting the members of the expansible end and for retaining them in a retracted position; to dispense with the ordinary form of cop or spool with headed ends and to )rovide a mechanism in which plain cylindrical tubes may be substituted for such cops or spools, thereby reducing considerably the cost of winding yarns, cloth, cord, paper, or othersimilar material; to provide an expansible end for a winding spindle which will hold a plain cylindrical tube sufficiently rigid to permit of the tight winding thereon of yarn, thread, paper or similar material, and to provide a simple, eflicient winding spindle, of the character above indicated, which is readily and easily manipulated or operated. 4

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and claims below.

In' the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are employed throughout the various views to designate the same parts, Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a winding spindle for a balling machine provided at its top end with my invention, the cop or tube and the yarn wound thereon being shown in vertical cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the spindle shown in Fig. l and the expansion members mounted therein, a fragment of the paper disk or label, which may be placed on the top of the tube prior to the winding, being shown resting on the top of the tube upon which the winding is to be made;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the spindle and expansion end in their normal positions before a tube is placed thereover;

Fig. 4 shows the key or handle which may be used to operate the expansion end;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the wings, vanes or the expansion members withdrawn or contracted within the outer member;

Fig. 7 shows a completed ball of yarn,

indicating the manner in which the same is end of the tube without the use of-adhesives or other securing means;

Fig. 8 shows my invention as applied to a spindle of the universal winding type, the spindle and cop or ball wound thereon being shown, for the most part, in vertical crosssection, thesection taken on line 8- -8 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8; 7

Fig. 10 is a further modification oiimy invention showing the same as applied to the winding spindle of a paperwinding or slitting machine, or to a cloth winding ma. chine; and

Fig. 11 is a section thereof on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1' to 7, the spindle 1 having a pulley or Wheel 2 rigid therewith, constitutes the main winding spindle of a winding machine. The top of this spindle 1 is provided with a head 3 extending longitudinally and coaxially of the spindle 1, said head being provided with a cylindrical recess 4 also arranged coaxi ally on the spindle. Within this recess 4 is smoothly and rotatively fitted an inner operating member 5 preferably consisting of the cylindrical portion 6 fitting within the recess 4 and a polygonal portion 7 to which are secured the wings, vanes 0r expansion members 8. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the polygonal portion 7 is substantially square in transverse cross-section and on each of the faces thereof respectively is secured a resilient wing, vane or expansion member 8 by means of screws or bolts 9. These Wings or expansion members 8 are adapted to normally project through slots 10 extending longitw dinally of and through the upper portion of the head 3, each wing or expansion member being adapted to cooperate with a slot respectively.

The head 3 is provided with a substantially circumferential slot 11, the ends of which are provided with recesses 12, 12 on the upper side thereof and extending longitudinally of the head 3, and a preferably cylindrical stop pin 13 is rigidly secured to the cylindrical portion 6 of the operating member 5 and projects outwardly through said slot 11. This pin 13 may have its outer end flush with the outer surface of the head 3 or it may project slightly beyond the outer surface of the head 3 and be provided with a tapering slot 14 adapted to receive and hold the free end of the yarn or cord at the beginning of a winding operation. The narrowest portion of the slot 11 is a little wider than the diameter of the stop pin 13 so that when the operating member 5 is turned with respect to the head 3, the stop pin 13 comes into registration and holding engagement with one or the other of the recesses 12, 12' atthe ends of the slot 11, as will be more fully described below.

Within the recesses 4 in the head 3 between the lower end of the cylindrical portion 6 and the bottom of the recess 4:, is a spiral spring 15, the tension of which is such as to tend to force the operating member 5 upwardly and out of the recess, such motion being restrained by the stop pin 13. In other words, this spring 15 holds the operat ing member 5 under a tension forcing it upwardly with the stop pin 13 in either one or the other of the recesses 12 or 12' in the top of the slot 11. Below the slot 11, the head 3 is provided with a second slot 16 extending part way circumferentially around the head 3, the length of said slot being substantially of the same length as the slot 11 and the operating member 5 is provided with a preferably tapered hole 17 adapted to receive the tapered end 18 of an operating key or handle 19 (see Fig. 4). This hole 17 is so positioned in the operating member 5 that when the stud or pin 13 is at one recess 12 of the slot 11, the hole 17 is in the corresponding end of the slot 16 and when the stop pin 13 is in the recess 12 at the other end of the slot 11, the tapered hole 17 is at or adjacent the other end of the slot 16.

The wings or expanding members 8 are preferably made of resilient sheet steel and normally extend outwardly from one side of the flat surface of the polygonal portion 7 to which they are respectively secured. These wings or vanes 8 are preferably provided with a round upper corner 20 and their top horizontal edges are preferably provided with sharp prick points or pins 21. The resiliency of the wings or vanes 8 tends to hold the operating member 5 in that position with respect to the head 3 shown in Fig. 3, that is, with the wings or vanes projecting through the slots 10 and beyond the outer surface of the head 3 to their fullest extent. In this position the stop pin 13 is seated in the recess 12, as shown in Fig. 1. In order to retract the expansion members or wings 8 and withdraw them into the head 3, the key 19 is inserted into thehole 17 in the head, the head or spindle is firmly grasped in one hand and the operating member 5 is turned contra? clockwise until the stop pin 13 enters the recess 12 in the opposite end of the slot 11, whereupon the spring 15 forces the stop pin upwardly and holds it in the recess 12. When the stop pin 13 has reached this position in the slot or recess 12, the expansion members will be held partly coiled within the head between the outer member 3 and the inner member 6, as clearly shown Fig. 6.

The head 3 may also be provided with two pins 22 bent downwardly close to the head 3 between which and the head 3, the free end of the yarn may be caught at the beginning of the winding operation instead of being caught and held in the slot 14 of the stop pin 13.

When the wings or vanes are fully ex- .panded, as shown in Fig. 3, the distance from the vertical edges of opposite wings or vanes is preferably a little greater than the inner diameter of the tube or cop 23 to be placed and held thereon by said wings or vanes.

With a device as above constructed and arranged, a cylindrical tube or cop 23, of paper or cardboard, is pressed downwardly over the rounded edges of the vanes or wings 8 until the top of the tube or cop 23 is substantially flush with the top surfaces of the wings or vanes 8. A circular label, 2-1, of paper or cardboard, or other suitable material, the outer diameter of which is sub stantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube or cop 23, is pressed down on the tops of the wings or vanes 8, so that the prick points .or pins 21 hold it in such position. The end 25 of the thread is then either caught in the slot 14: of the stop pin 13, or caught between one of the pins 22 and the outer surface of the head 3, the s indle is rotated and the winding of the bal 25' on the tube 23 is accomplished in the usual manner. As the flier or thread guiding mechanism (not shown) is reciprocated longitudinally of the spindle in the usual manner, the cord or yarn builds up to produce a ball of yarn or cord 25, such as is shown in Fig. 7,and in so building, the paper label or disk 24 is bound into the ball and held firmly against the end of the cylindrical tube or cop 23 by the yarn or thread wound forming the ball. When the winding has been completed, the rotation of the spindle is stopped. The key 19 is inserted in the hole 18, the end 25 of the thread is caught and broken, the head 3 is grasped in one hand and the key pushed in itsslot 16 to the right or contra-clockwise, with the result that the resilient wings 8 are drawn through the slots 10 into the head 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The wound ball may then be slipped vertically oil the upper end of the spindle, this being accomplished, the key 19 is used to throw the stop pin 13 out of the recess 12' whereupon the resiliency of the wings or vanes turns the operating member 5 within the head 3 until the wings or vanes re assume the position shown in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 8 and 9, is shown a modification of the invention as applied to a universal winding spindle. In this case, the spindle 26 is hollow throughout its length and its outer surface is cylindrical. The cop or paper tube 27 fits substantially snugly over the outer surface of the spindle 26. The spindle 26 is provided with one or more pairs of longitudinally extending slots 28 and through the slots extend resilient wings or vanes or expansion members 29. These expansion members are preferably formed of a substantially rectangular plate or sheet of resilient material, such as spring steel, the width of which is a little greater than the diameter of the spindle 26. The wings or vanes 29 may be secured to theoperating member 30 in any convenient manner, but in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in said Figs. 8 and 9, this operating member consists of a cylindrical portion30 having a cylindrical head 31 at its lower end smoothly fitting into the interior bore 32 ot the hollow spindle 26. The cylindrical rod 31 is preferably split longitudinally and the expansion members 29 may be held in the slot by suitable rivets or screws 33. Below the head 31 and within the interior bore 32 of the spindle 26 is a spiral spring 34, tending to push the operating member 30 up- .wardly. The upper end of the split cylindrical rod 31 may be provided with a ring or bushing 35, smoothly fitting within the interior of the bore 32 of the spindle 26. The upper end of the hollow spindle 26 is provided with a circumferential slot '36, and the ring or bushin 35 is provided with a stop pin or stud 3 The stop pin 37 cooperates with the slot 36 in the same manner that the stop pin 13 cooperates with the slot .11 of the modification shown in Fig. 1. For

turning the operating member 30 for the purpose of retracting the wings or expansion members 29, the top of the cylindrical rod 31 may be provided with a knurled head 38 securely fastened to the top of the rod 31 and having an outer diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the spindle 26. To retract or withdraw into the spindle 26 the expansion members 29, the knurled head 28-is turned contra-clockwise to bring the stud pin 37 into the longitudinally extending recess at the right hand end of the circumferential slot 36, shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the spring 34 holds the stoppin 37 in such position and the wound cop 39 may be withdrawn longitudinally of the spindle.

In Figs. 10 and 11 is a further modifica tion of the invention as applied to a spindle for winding paper or cloth thereon. In thi modification of my invention, the wind ing shaft or spindle may comprise a hollow cylindrical tube 40 into the opposite ends of which are fitted hollow heads 4141 having trunnions or bearing portions 4242. Within these hollow heads 41-41 is the operating member 43, comprising a shaft having cylindrical ends 44, 45, bearing respectively in the trunnions 42-42. The operating member is further provided intermediate of its cylindrical portions 44, 45 with a portion 46 preferably of polygonal shape in transverse cross-section to which are secured still, but resilient wings or expansion members 47, the outer edges of which pass through slots 48 in the winding shaft 40. Between the cylindrical portion 44 and the wing carrying portions 46, the

operating member 43 is provided with a collar or bushing 49 rigid therewith and provided with a stop pin 50 cotiperating with a slot 51 in the hollow shaft 40, said stop pin 50 and slot 51 being of the same construction and operating in the same man nor as the pin 13.and slot 11 of the spindle shown in Fig. 1 and as the stop pin 37 and slot 36 of the structure shown in Fig. 8. The end of the cylindrical portion 44 may be provided with a squared head or end 52 having a wrench or key for turning the operating member 43 with respect to the hollow shaft 40 to retract or withdraw the outer edges of the wings or vanes 47 from the interior of the heavypaper tube or cop 53.

be slipped over either end of the shaft, the wings or vanes or expansion members 47 are preferably each provided with rounded corners -56 to facilitate the depression of the wings by the tube, if they are in their ex panded position when the tube is slipped thereover.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the tube 53 is a heavy paper tube or wooden tube and the same is illustrated as being provided with a roll 57 of paper, cloth or other similar material.

It is to be observed that in all the various forms of my invention as previously described, the free edges of the wings or vanes make such an angle with the interior of the tube with which they come into engagement as to'grip and bite the interior of the tube and firmly hold it so that the tube or cop will rotate with the spindle during the winding operation. When the tube or cop snugly fits the outer surface of the winding spindle as is the case in the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the function of the wings or vanes is to tightly engage the interior of the co and to drive it with the spindle without slipping. When, however, the tube or cop does not snugly fit the outer surface of the head or spindle as is illustrated in the balling spindle shown in Fig. 1, then these resilient vanes serve to center and hold the tube upon which the thread or yarn is to be wound in ax al alinement with the axis of the spindle, in addition to firmly gripping the interior of the cop to drive it without slipplng.

In all of the modificatlons above described, the resilient wings or vanes or expansion members do not extend directly radially of the spindle. They make an angle with the line drawn through the axis of the spindle, and the slot through which a vane normally projects. These vanes or wings project in the direction in Wl'llch the spindle is to be turned in wlnding so that the ends of the wings or vanes firmly grip the interior of the tube on which the material is to be wound. The diameter of the tube or cop is preferably a l1ttle less than the greatest diameter of the vanes or wings so that the wings or vanes are slightly flexed in the direction in which the s indle is turned in winding after a tube or cy inder has been placed thereover. (See Flg. 4:.)

In balling machines, as usually operated, the cop consists of a ardboard tube having two heads glued or otherwise secured thereto, one head having an opening for the reception of the spinning head 3 and the other head being imperforate and adapted to be drawn or forced against a projection having sharp edges, this projection being forced through the imperforate head and being supposed to hold the cop from turning wlth menace respect to the spindle, but in such construction, the prevention of slipping between the cop and the spindle is not satisfactorily overcome. In fact, it is the exception when the cop is not loose on the spindle at the beginning of the winding operation, and moreover, such cops, provided with double heads, are very much more expensive than plain tubular cops, such as with which my invention is adapted to cooperate.

I have thus produced a simple, eiiicient winding spindle which is easily operated and which in use prevents any slipping whatever between the tube on which the material is to be wound and the spindle by means of which the tube is to be rotated during the winding operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a winding spindle, the combination of-a hollow outer member provided with openings through the same, an inner member rotatable within said outer member, a plurality of resilient members rigidly secured to said inner member and. each normally extending respectively through one of said openings in said hollow member, means to turn said inner member with respect to said outer member to draw said resilient members into said hollow member and to flex the same between said inner and outer members, and means to hold said inner member from turning with respect to said outer member.

2. In a winding spindle, the combination of a hollow outer member provided with slots extending through the same, an inner member mounted within said hollow member, a plurality of resilient wings rigidly secured to said rotatable member and each normally extending respectively through one of said slots in said outer member, means to rotate said inner member with respect to said outer .member to draw said wings into said hollow member and to flex the same between said inner and outer members, and means to hold said inner member with respect to said outer member with said wings retracted.

3. In a winding spindle, the combination of a hollow member provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof, an inner member coaxially arranged with respect to and rotatable within said hollow member, a plurality of resilient members rigidly secured to said inner member and each normally extending respectively through one of said slots in said hollow member, said inner member being rotatable with respect to said outer member'to draw said resilient members into said hollow member and to flex them between said inner and outer members, and means tohold said inner member with respect to said outer member in two positions,

jecting through said outer member and the other with said resilient members retracted and within said hollow member.

4. In a winding spindle, the combination of a hollow outer member provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof, an inner member rotatable with respect to said outer member and provided with a plurality of resilient wings each normally extending through one of said slots respectively and making an angle to a line drawn through the axis of said members and through said slots, said inner member being rotatable with respect to said outer member to withdraw said wings into said hollow member and to tend to coil said wing around said inner member within said outer member, a stop pin on one of said inner members the other of said members being provided with a circumferential slot into which said stop pin projects, said last mentioned slothaving its ends recessed longitudinally of said outer member, and a spring under tension and normally holding said stop pin in one or said recesses to prevent the free rotation of said members with respect to each other.

5. In a winding spindle, the combination of a rotatable hollow member provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots or openings, an inner member mounted with in said outer member and rotatable with respect thereto, a, plurality of resilient wings secured to said inner member and normally projecting each through the slot respectively in'said outer member and making an angle to a line passing through the axis of said members and through the slot through which a wing projects, said outer member being also provided with a circumferential slot having longitudinally extending recesses at the ends thereof, a pin rigid with said inner member and extending into said last mentioned slot, a spring within said outer member to press said inner member longitudinally of said outer member to hold said step pin in either of said longitudinally extending recesses in said circumferential slot, and means to turn said inner member with respect to said outer member to bend said resilient wings around said inner memher and between said inner member and said outer member to retract said resilient members from the position in which they project beyond said outer member.

6. In a winding spindle, the combination of an outer hollow member provided with longitudinally extending slots through the same, an inner member within said hollow member and rotatable with respect thereto, a plurality of resilient members rigidly secured to said rotatable member and each. normally extending respectively through one of said slots in said outer member, means to turn said inner member with respect to said outer member to draw said member into said hollow member and flex the same between said inner and outer members, means to prevent the free rotation of said inner member with respect to said outer member and operative to hold said inner member in its extreme position of rotation with respect to the outer member, the ends being substantially flush with the free end of said hollow member, and means on said resilient members to support and hold a disk of paper or of similar material.

7 In a winding spindle, the combination of a hollow outer member provided with openings through the same, an inner member within said outer member, and a plurality of resilient members rigidly secured to said inner member and each normally extending respectively through one of the openings in said hollow member, said inner and outer members being rotatable with respect to each other to draw said resilient members into said hollow member and to flex the same within the space between the inner and outer members.

8. In a winding spindle, the combination of a hollow outer member provided with longitudinal slots, an inner member within said outer member, and a plurality of resilient wings or blades rigidly secured at one end to said inner member, and each normally extending respectively through one, of said slots in said outer member, said inner and outer members being rotatable with respect to each other to draw said resilient members into said outer member and to flex the same in the space between said inner and outer members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of December, 1916.

JAMES MORRES BROWN. 

